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My Little Pony: Pony Life - What Goes Updo (S2E17)

My Little Pony: Pony Life – Season 2 - Episode 17 – What Goes Updo

The Mane Six get a mane makeover at Princess Cadence's Mane Styling booth. But when Rarity arrives late, the booth is already closed, and she feels left out and envious.

Air Date2021-05-08
GenresAnimation, Comedy, Kids
TV RatingTV-Y7
Network(s)Treehouse TV, 9Go!, Tiny Pop

Storyline

Princess Cadence sets up a special mane styling booth in Sugarcube Corner, offering the Mane Six glamorous new hairstyles. Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle each receive elaborate updos and transformations, leaving the salon thrilled with their fresh looks. The friends excitedly show off their new styles to one another, bonding over the pampering experience.

When Rarity finally arrives at the booth, eager for her own makeover, she discovers that Princess Cadence has already closed up for the day. Left as the only pony without a new hairstyle, Rarity struggles with feelings of exclusion and envy as she watches her friends enjoy their glamorous new looks. The episode explores how Rarity navigates her disappointment and the social dynamics that arise when one friend is inadvertently left out of a shared experience.

What kids learn

This episode teaches children about managing feelings of exclusion and envy when friends share an experience without them. Rarity's situation demonstrates that being left out often happens unintentionally rather than through deliberate unkindness, helping kids understand that not every instance of exclusion is personal. Children can observe how disappointment feels when you miss out on something special, and how those feelings are valid and normal.

The story also offers lessons about punctuality and its social consequences. Rarity's late arrival directly causes her to miss the opportunity, showing young viewers that timeliness matters when participating in group activities. This connection between actions and outcomes helps children understand personal responsibility without harsh judgment.

Additionally, the episode explores friendship dynamics when one person feels different or left behind. Children can learn empathy by seeing both sides: how Rarity feels watching her friends enjoy something she missed, and how the other ponies might not immediately realize their friend is hurting. These lessons encourage kids to be mindful of including others and to communicate their feelings when they feel left out.

Parents' top 5 questions

QuestionAnswer
How should I talk to my child about Rarity feeling left out?Use Rarity's experience to validate your child's own feelings about exclusion. Explain that feeling sad or jealous when friends do something without you is normal and doesn't make you a bad person. Emphasize that Rarity wasn't deliberately excluded—she arrived late—which helps children distinguish between accidental and intentional exclusion. Ask your child if they've ever felt similar emotions and listen without judgment, reinforcing that talking about hurt feelings is healthy and important.
What does this episode teach about being on time?The episode illustrates natural consequences of tardiness in a gentle, age-appropriate way. Rarity's late arrival means she misses the styling booth, showing children that punctuality affects our ability to participate in activities we care about. This isn't presented as punishment but as a realistic outcome. Parents can use this to discuss family routines and why being on time for playdates, activities, or family events helps everyone enjoy experiences together without disappointment.
How can I help my child understand envy without making them feel guilty?Frame envy as a natural human emotion rather than a character flaw. Explain that wanting what others have is something everyone experiences, including adults. The key lesson is what we do with those feelings. Use Rarity's situation to discuss healthy ways to handle jealousy: talking about feelings, remembering our own special qualities, and understanding that one missed experience doesn't define our friendships. Normalize the emotion while guiding toward constructive responses.
Should my child feel bad for Rarity or learn she should have been on time?Both responses are valid and can coexist. Children can feel empathy for Rarity's disappointment while also understanding that her lateness contributed to the situation. This teaches nuanced thinking: we can feel compassion for someone's hurt feelings even when their choices played a role in the outcome. Help your child see that understanding cause and effect doesn't mean someone deserves to feel bad—it means learning from experiences to make different choices next time.
How do I address my child feeling left out by friends after watching this?If the episode triggers your child's own exclusion experiences, create space for that conversation. Ask open-ended questions about times they've felt left out and listen actively. Distinguish between one-time incidents and patterns of exclusion, and discuss whether situations were accidental or deliberate. Role-play ways to express feelings to friends or join activities next time. Reinforce that true friends care about including everyone and that speaking up about hurt feelings strengthens rather than damages good friendships.

Writing

Directing

Season
Season #Episode #Episode Name
11
The ponies help Pinkie Pie audition for a televised cooking competition called the Royal Jelly Juggernaut. When the rest of the Mane 6 are caught in a sticky situation, Pinkie Pie has to audition for the Royal Jelly Juggernaut all on her own.
12
Pinkie Pie auditions for the TV cooking competition Royal Jelly Juggernaut, but her friends are unable to help her when they face problems of their own.
13
Rainbow Dash's competitive spirit is put to the test when a new pony challenges her to a contest unlike any other. Rainbow Dash faces off against Dishwater Slog in a loser-take-all race to finally prove which pony is truly the worst.
14
Dishwater Slog's competition really pushes Rainbow Dash to her limits. Seems she impossibly can win, no matter how hard she tries.
15
Applejack finds herself in the midst of an identity crisis when her signature hat becomes a city-wide fashion craze.
16
In search for her true identity Applejack joins a group of alternative ponies in the hopes of finding a new style to replace her old look.
17
As Pinkie Pie practices for the Royal Jelly Juggernaut, Fluttershy makes an adorable new friend with a twisted sense of humor.
18
Torn between her new friend Bubbles and the other ponies, Fluttershy has to muster all of her cuteness to protect her friends from the cat's dark side.
19
Rarity tries to get rid of her bad luck before it can ruin her relationship with a new friend. As Rarity continues to deal with her bad luck, she receives some much-needed advice.
110
Rarity tries to get rid of her bad luck before it can ruin her relationship with a new friend. As Rarity continues to deal with her bad luck, she receives some much-needed advice.
111
Pinkie struggles to help out her friends as she prepares for the finale round of the Royal Jelly Juggernaut. As she enters the final round, her friends rally behind her.
112
Pinkie struggles to help out her friends as she prepares for the finale round of the Royal Jelly Juggernaut. As she enters the final round, her friends rally behind her.
113
As Fluttershy joins a Trail Trotters troop, her friends try to protect her from a big disappointment.
114
The Mane 6 enter a cookie selling contest in the hopes of winning a celebrity meet-n-greet, but the high-pressure world of cookie sales has a way of changing ponies.
115
The ponies set out to earn their Trail Trotters Rare Animal Sighting Badge by searching for a terrifying creature known as Bighoof.
116
Rainbow Dash runs out of time. Literally.
117
Feeling competitive, the ponies build derby cars and enter their pets in a thrilling race.
118
Rarity performs a fabulous new magic act, but her disappearing spell works a little too well.
119
Twilight Sparkle attempts to earn her Trail Trotters Engineering Badge by facing a foe unlike any other, a list of incomprehensible instructions.
120
Fluttershy encourages Discord to join her Trail Trotters troop, but her chaotic friend insists on going solo.
121
When the Mane 6 go on a Trail Trotters camping trip, Rarity has trouble leaving behind the comforts of modern life.
122
Separated from their technology, the ponies entertain themselves by telling some good old-fashioned campfire stories.
123
The ponies get crafty and teach Trixie the true meaning of friendship.
124
The ponies go to extreme lengths to introduce Fluttershy to her celebrity hero Finn Tastic.
125
A mysterious stranger has been refilling the potion fridge in Sugarcube Corner and Twilight Sparkle won't rest until she finds out their true identity.
126
When Pinkie Pie takes a sick day, her friends learn that running Sugarcube Corner is a little more difficult than it looks.
127
Twilight Sparkle and her friends meet a mysterious new pony who takes them on a (sort of) magical quest.
128
Applejack loses her patience when her friends won't spend time together during their beach house vacation.
129
Twilight Sparkle tries to avoid her problems and accidentally traps Applejack and herself inside a potion bottle.
130
Twilight Sparkle learns from Potion Nova that potion making is trickier than it looks.
131
Left alone at Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie accidently creates a new batch of desserts with minds of their own.
132
Pinkie Pie learns a lesson in public speaking when she hosts a tech conference at Sugarcube Corner.
133
The ponies experience a taste of fame after starring in a viral video.
134
The ponies pull out all the stops to recreate their viral fame.
135
Rainbow Dash is worried she'll miss out when she can't she get access to a fun new sound-making app on her tablet.
136
Fluttershy tries to make an unboxing video while dealing with a very stubborn box.
137
Applejack struggles to find the perfect gift for Pinkie Pie's birthday.
138
Applejack's fresh new haircut isn't so fresh after all.
139
Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash snap out of some old habits when they hear the voice of a mysterious being.
140
Fluttershy needs help with a shy butterfly.
141
Twilight wants her friends to play her game when they are trapped inside due to "bad weather".
142
Spike wants to film his friends.
143
Somepony has lost their hat and there's only one mystery-solver who can help.
144
After a fight with a friend, Applejack seeks advice from her favourite blogger.
145
Pinkie Pie finds herself in a cupcake contest with her oldest rival, her brother.
146
Pinkie and friends try to prepare Snips and Snails for the gala but lose track of the purpose of why they are helping them.
147
Rarity's going to be a star and she needs everypony to celebrate.
148
Rainbow Dash needs help from her friends after she's sidelined at the Sportacular Spectacular.
149
Rarity worries that the Sportacular Spectacular is no place for an indoor pony.
150
The six ponies signed up to the Sportacular Spectacular only to find out their team is not what they expected it to be.
151
Being split into two competing teams, the ponies have to face their best friends.
152
At the closing ceremonies of the Sportactular Spectacular, the Mane 6 are thrust into the spotlight.
Season #Episode #Episode Name
21
Twilight makes a shocking discovery when she sees a strange pink dot through her telescope. But instead of telling her friends, she decides to handle this situation her own.
22
Fluttershy interviews her friends about the coming Cosmic Cotton Candy Comet, while Pinkie Pie tries to collect the cosmic crystals needed for her treats. But, she needs Fluttershy's help.
23
Rarity decides to throw a viewing party for all of Ponyville to watch the Cosmic Cotton Candy Comet.
24
Rainbow decides to sell merchandise to commemorate the Cosmic Cotton Candy Comet, but unfortunately for her, another pony gets the same idea as her.
25
When a mysterious balloon lands in Ponyville, the Mane Six try to figure out what it is and what it could be.
26
When Pinkie Pie's friends except Rarity are late to a certain cupcake testing, she uses a magical tiara (given to her by Fluttershy) to find out the real reason why they couldn't come.
27
Applejack adopts a magical flower friend as her pet, which winds up growing out of control when he eats the entire apple crop.
28
Spike and the Mane Six find a bubble wand and have fun with it. But, things take a turn for the worse pretty quick when they get stuck.
29
When the Mane Six decide to make a time capsule to look back fondly on their time in the future, Fluttershy struggles to find the perfect item to add to it.
210
Rarity and Applejack get transported to Old Equestria, and have to prove themselves worthy to get Applejack's cowgirl hat back in order to return to their time.
211
When Twilight and Rainbow Dash are tranported to a futuristic-looking Ponyville, they have to save Fluttershy from Mecha-Ponies!
212
The Mane Six are reunited and return to their own time, only to discover that Sugarcube Corner is now a salad restaurant.
213
After the Wild Siders have crossed over into Ponyville, the Mane Six show them around the town, but nearly miss the tour's point .
214
Lightning Chill watches Pinkie Pie as her baking apprentice for the day, but the two clash over how they like their styles.
215
Rarity prepares herself for the premiere of her 100th livestream episode of her show, with Sugar Snap’s help.
216
The Mane Six get a mane makeover at Princess Cadence's Mane Styling booth. But when Rarity arrives late, the booth is already closed, and she feels left out and envious.
217
The Mane Six get a mane makeover at Princess Cadence's Mane Styling booth. But when Rarity arrives late, the booth is already closed, and she feels left out and envious.
218
When Pinkie suggests splitting up to do separate things and synchronizing with text messages, the other ponies take her texts the wrong way.
219
Fluttershy decides to pursue her childhood dream of being a clown. However, Applejack has a fear of clowns.
220
When a fortune-telling machine makes the ponies' fortunes come true, Rainbow Dash fears that her worst one will happen and decides to join a traveling circus to "stay in motion."
221
The Mane Six decide to celebrate Ponyville Play Day by letting the Wild Siders decide to pitch their ideas on which play they should do.
222
When a theater director casts Rarity in a stage play on the same night The Mane Six's play is on, she must choose between fame or friends.
223
Applejack catches stage fright on the night of their play, and her friends try to help her relax, and relieve herself of the stress.
224
On the night of the play, the Mane Six's props begin running amok, and they try to go along with it as if it were nothing.
225
The magic in Ponyville has reached its peak, and Rarity and Pinkie Pie have to find out why.
226
When Discord makes off with their cosmic wishes, the Mane Six decide to go into his head to find out his intentions with them.
227
With chaos magic still around and Ponyville and the Wild Side about to collide, the Mane Six and Wild Siders must team up to set things right.
228
Continuing from the previous episode, the Mane Six decide to throw Discord his first ever birthday party to get him to use his last wish to save Ponyville.

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